Strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’, particularly selected for its very early production and rain tolerance, as well as the firmness, conic shape, and flavor of the fruit, is disclosed.

Latin name:

Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof strawberry plant is ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cultivated strawberry is a hybrid species of the genus Fragaria that isgrown worldwide for its fruit. Modern strawberry was first bred inBrittany, France, in the 18^(th) century by crossing Fragaria virginianawith Fragaria chiloensis. Strawberry fruit is an aggregate accessoryfruit, with the fleshy part of the fruit being derived from thereceptacle that holds the ovaries.

Strawberry varieties vary widely in color, size, shape, flavor, seasonof ripening, degree of fertility, and susceptibility to disease. Certainvarieties vary in foliage, and some vary in the relative development oftheir reproductive organs. Typically, strawberry flowers appearhermaphroditic in structure, but function as either male or female.Generally, commercial production of strawberry plants involvespropagation from runners and distribution as either plugs or bare rootplants. Cultivation is either perennial or annual plasticulture. Duringthe off season, strawberries can also be produced in greenhouses.

Strawberry fruit is widely appreciated for its characteristic bright redcolor, aroma, juicy texture, and sweetness. Strawberry fruit is apopular fruit that is generally consumed either fresh or in preparedfoods, such as preserves and baked goods.

Strawberry is an important and valuable fruit crop. Accordingly, thereis a need for new varieties of strawberry plants. In particular, thereis a need for improved varieties of strawberry plant that are stable,high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of strawberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant (Fragaria xananassa), which has been denominated as ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

Strawberry plant variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ originated from acontrolled cross between the female parent ‘DrisStrawFortyEight’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 27,442) and the proprietary male parent ‘2AC123’(unpatented). Progeny plants from this cross, including‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’, were asexually propagated via stolons in ShastaCounty, Calif. in May of 2016. Strawberry plant variety‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ was later specifically identified and selected inHillsborough County, Fla. in December 2016.

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ was subsequently asexually propagated viastolons, and has undergone testing at test plots in Hillsborough County,Fla. for six years (2016 to 2021). The present variety has been found tobe stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations via stolons and tissue culture.

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ was particularly selected for its very earlyproduction and rain tolerance, as well as the firmness, conic shape, andflavor of the fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new strawberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. Unless otherwise indicated, thephotographs are of plants that are four months old.

FIG. 1 illustrates whole fruit of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

FIG. 2 illustrates longitudinal sections of fruit of variety‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

FIG. 3 illustrates another view of whole fruit of variety‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ with a more apical view of the calyx.

FIG. 4 illustrates the upper surface (top row) and lower surface (bottomrow) of flowers of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

FIG. 5 illustrates the lower surface (top) and upper surface (bottom) ofleaves of variety ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’. The data which define thesecharacteristics is based on observations taken in Hillsborough County,Fla. from 2016 to 2021. This description is in accordance with UPOVterminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic, and cultural conditions. ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The botanicaldescription of ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ was taken from plants that werefour months old. The indicated values represent averages calculated frommeasurements of several plants. Color references are primarily to TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London(R.H.S.) (2015 edition). Descriptive terminology follows the PlantIdentification Terminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition byJames G. Harris and Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwisedefined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Species.—Fragaria x ananassa.        -   Common name.—Strawberry.        -   Denomination.—‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘DrisStrawFortyEight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.            27,442).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary strawberry plant ‘2AC123’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—12.05 cm.        -   Diameter.—33.4 cm.        -   Number of crowns per plant.—1.5.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Density of foliage.—Medium.        -   Vigor.—Medium.-   Stolon:    -   -   Number of daughter plants per square foot.—12.        -   Diameter at bract.—4.02 mm.        -   Overall color.—RHS 149C (Brilliant yellow green).        -   Anthocyanin coloration.—Absent or very weak.        -   Anthocyanin color (when present).—RHS 39D (Light pink).        -   Density of pubescence.—Medium.-   Fruiting truss:    -   -   Attitude at first picking.—Prostrate.        -   Color (at base of truss).—RHS 145B (Light yellow green).-   Leaf:    -   -   Number of leaflets.—Three only.        -   Color of leaf upper surface.—RHS 137A (Moderate olive            green).        -   Color of leaf lower surface.—RHS 191A (Greyish yellow            green).        -   Blistering.—Medium.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Terminal leaflet.—Length: 7.1 cm. Width: 7.3 cm.            Length/width ratio: 0.973. Number of teeth per terminal            leaflet: 21.9. Overall shape: Orbicular. Shape of base:            Acute. Shape of apex: Rounded. Margin: Serrate to crenate.            Shape in cross section: Concave.        -   Petiole.—Length: 106.4 mm. Diameter: 3.249 mm. Overall            color: RHS 145B (Light yellow green). Pubescence: Medium.            Attitude of hairs: Horizontal. Bract frequency (number            present on each petiole): 0.83.        -   Petiolule.—Length: 9.2 mm. Diameter: 1.966 mm. Color: RHS            145C (Light yellow green).        -   Stipule.—Length: 30.3 mm. Width: 15.4 mm. Stipule color: RHS            145B (Light yellow green). Anthocyanin coloration: Medium.            Anthocyanin color: RHS 58A (Moderate purplish red).            Pubescence: Medium.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers per plant.—13.4.        -   Position of inflorescence in relation to foliage.—Beneath            foliage.        -   Pedicel.—Attitude of hairs: Slightly outwards.        -   Flower.—Flower diameter (petal tip to petal tip on            non-flattened flower): 23.7 mm. Arrangement of petals:            Overlapping. Size of calyx in relation to corolla: Larger.            Stamen: Present. Receptacle color: RHS 6A (Brilliant            greenish yellow). Anther color: RHS 13A (Vivid yellow).        -   Petal.—Length: 13.1 mm. Width: 13.2 mm. Length/width ratio:            0.99. Number of petals per flower: 5.3. Color of upper            surface: RHS 155C (Greenish white). Color of lower surface:            RHS 155C (Greenish white). Overall shape: Orbicular. Shape            of apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Shape of base:            Concavo-convex.        -   Calyx.—Diameter (sepal tip to sepal tip, measured on back of            flower): 36.9 mm.        -   Sepal.—Length: 12.6 mm. Width: 6.7 mm. Number of sepals per            flower: 10.6. Overall shape: Elliptical. Margin: Entire.        -   Flowering.—Flowering interval: Late October to March.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit size.—Length: 49.8 mm. Width: 39.2 mm. Length/width            ratio: 1.24.        -   Fruit hollow.—Length: 19.4 mm. Width: 5 mm. Length/width            ratio: 3.88.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Difference in shape of terminal and other fruits.—None or            very slight.        -   Fruit color.—RHS 45A (Vivid red).        -   Evenness of color.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Glossiness.—Medium.        -   Evenness of surface.—Even or very slightly uneven.        -   Width of band without achenes.—Narrow.        -   Position of achenes.—Level with surface.        -   Position of calyx attachment.—Level with fruit.        -   Attitude of sepals.—Upwards to outwards.        -   Diameter of calyx in relation to diameter of fruit.—Same            size to slightly larger.        -   Adherence of calyx.—Weak.        -   Firmness.—Firm.        -   Color of flesh (excluding core).—RHS 45A (Vivid red).        -   Evenness of flesh color.—Slightly uneven.        -   Distribution of flesh color.—Marginal and central.        -   Color of core.—RHS 155C (Greenish white).        -   Sweetness/soluble solids (in ° Brix).—8.1.        -   Titratable acidity (% as citric acid).—0.375%.        -   Individual fruit weight.—23.7 g/fruit.        -   Achenes.—Number of achenes per fruit: 422. Weight: 0.0004128            g/achene. Color of upper (sunward) side: RHS 178C (Moderate            reddish orange). Color of lower (shaded) side: RHS 154B            (Brilliant yellow green).        -   Fruiting.—Harvest interval: Mid-November to March. Type of            bearing: Fully remontant. Productivity: 29,951 lbs to 31,286            lbs of fruit per acre per season from seven-month-old plants            when grown in Dover, Fla.-   Resistance to abiotic stress, pests, and diseases:    -   -   Heat.—Moderately resistant.        -   Rain tolerance.—Moderately resistant.        -   Two-spotted spider mite (tetranychus urticae).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Botrytis fruit rot (botrytis cinerea).—Moderately            susceptible.        -   Powdery mildew (podosphaera macularis).—Moderately            resistant.        -   Anthracnose fruit rot (colletotrichum            acutatum).—Susceptible.        -   Charcoal rot (macrophomina phaseolina).—Susceptible.        -   Neopestalotiopsis.—Susceptible.        -   Angular leaf spot (xanthomonas fragariae).—Susceptible.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND REFERENCE VARIETIES

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ differs from the female parent‘DrisStrawFortyEight’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,442) in that‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ has medium vigor, medium leaf glossiness, and afully remontant type of bearing, whereas ‘DrisStrawFortyEight’ has weakvigor, absent or weak leaf glossiness, and a partially remontant type ofbearing. In addition, ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ has a more compact planthabit, darker colored leaves, and is higher yielding than‘DrisStrawFortyEight’.

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ differs from the male parent proprietarystrawberry plant ‘2AC123’ (unpatented) in that ‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’begins fruit production much earlier than ‘2AC123’ and is lesssusceptible to blotchy fruit ripening and rain damage compared to‘2AC123’.

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisStrawTwentyFour’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,378) in that‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ has a semi-upright growth habit, mediumanthocyanin coloration on stipules, medium fruit glossiness, and a fullyremontant type of bearing, whereas ‘DrisStrawTwentyFour’ has a spreadinggrowth habit, absent or very weak anthocyanin coloration on stipules,strong fruit glossiness, and a partially remontant type of bearing.

‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,682) in that‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ has a medium density of foliage, medium leafglossiness, medium anthocyanin coloration on stipules, and a fullyremontant type of bearing, whereas ‘DrisStrawFortyNine’ has a sparsedensity of foliage, absent or weak leaf glossiness, absent or very weakanthocyanin coloration on stipules, and a partially remontant type ofbearing.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named‘DrisStrawNinetyThree’ as shown and described herein.